Means for making spacers, rules, or the like



July 9, 1935. F J E E 2,007,301

MEANS FOR MAKING SPACERS; RULES OR THE LIKE Filed April. 26, 1933.idmmlmm 111 i I VII l?? INVENTOR.

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Patented July 9, 1935 2,007,301

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR MAKING SPACERS, RULES, OR THE LIKEFrank J. Lemieux, Central Falls, R. 1..

Application April 26, 1933, Serial No. 667,979 8 Claims. ((31. 207-17)This invention relates to a slug, spacer, rule of the product and fasterdrawing through the or the like for use in connection with printingmachine. and has for one of its objects to provide a product With theseand other objects in view, the inwhich may be formed so that it will beeasily sepvention consists of certain novel features of conarable fromlike strips of the product. struction, as will be more fully described,and 5 Another object of the invention is to better particularly pointedout in the appended claims. lubricate the work and the mold or die inwhich In the accompanying drawing:

the same will be formed by better distribution Fig. l is a perspectiveview showing the disof the lubricant over the engaging surfaces of chage end of the mold or die used in the forma- ID the die. tion of myproduct.

Another object of the invention is the provision 2 is a perspective viewshowin e enof a mold or die for casting or extruding a pluralance e d ofthe mold.

ity of ribbons or slugs, by which the separating Fig. 3 is a perspectiveV w showing O e O the plate between two of the channels will be kept atut pla s of the mold removed and xp s n a lower temperature. thedivision plate with the ribs thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision i 4 i a p r p tive viewof this division of a division plate between two adjacent chan- P nelsina mold or die which will be stiffened against i 5 s a sectional v w online f buckling or th lik Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the dischargeend Another object of the invention is the utiliza- 0f the meld d dillustrating a pa of rib- 20 tion of ribs on the division plate betweentwo adbons of the work as extendin t efrom. jacent channels fordistributing the lubricant 7 is a sectional View Of a fregmental D usedover the plate and preventing a quick rise tion of the casting machineshowing the die or of t l b t from th l w entering edge of mold in itsrelative position therein and omitting the channel to the upper edgethereof and by this the remainder of the melting P and the pulling 25more even distribution to prevent the forming of apparatus for assistingin feeding t ese ribbons pockets of oil at the upper edge of the channelthrough the machineand consequently an imperfect edge of the work. 8 isa p p v V O a fregmental p Another object of the invention i th moretion of one of the strips showing the surface coneven distribution oflubrication over the surface teeting With the inner Wall Of the 30 ofthe cast or extruded work so that there is no 9 is a perspective view oft s s p accumulation of lubricant on the work for the looking at the ppde t reof. collection of lint or sawdust which frequently 00- Thisinvention has to do more p ula y with curs in cutting a plurality of thestrips for use. dies molds Such as are d w h a machine Another object ofthe invention is the forming known on the maiket as the EirOd ug a d rue 35 of grooves in th rk th t sh l t be any caster, and while it isapplicable to dies for eastexcess oil or lubricant used in the formationof ing extruding a single Strip bbon from the work it will collect inthese grooves at which meiten metal it finds its greatest adaptationpoint any lint or sawdust will also collect and be and advantages in useWhere twin, a plurality less detrimental by not being forced into thecontrips are P I as in this use certain d fii- 40 taeting u fa e of thework when the Same is in culties are additionally present which thisinvention obv1ates.

Another object of the invention is the longer In the castmg of nbbo?having fiat opposite life of the mold and surfaces thereof by reasonSurfaces for i q i Wlth type rules other of the better lubrication ofthese surfaces and the igi z z g 22 22 i g i g consequent reduction ofwear thereon. y s a 8 ac e Oge er the film of oil which occurs thereonas the r d Another 01038 of the mventlon IS h provlslon livered from thecasting machine causes aghisio n of work having a. smoother and bettersurface by of these ribbons or strips so that they will stick formingharder and hlgher Pollshed Surfaces on together and this is particularlynoticeable in 50 t d such i by the e Of Chromium Plating the ribbons ofa thin construction such as twoor the like. point thickness, so that itis sometimes difficult A furth r l e 0f the invention is the Speedfor atype setter to separate these spacers, slugs ing up of the operation ofthe machine in which or rules one from the other, thus requiring alowthe mold is used by reason of the quicker cooling ing up of the typesetting operation. Also when 55 formed, it frequently occurs that thislint will fly and adhere to the surface of one of the strips, and whenthis strip is contacted with another strip this particle will beimbedded therein and thus firmly secured thereto, and when the spacer.or if it be a rule, is inserted in place in the setting of type it willcause this spacer to be offline which is undesirable.

Also in the casting of a strip of this character with plain flatsurfaces, if too little oil is deliv-a ered to the mold, the strip isliable to break in being fed from the die, while if too great amount ofoil is delivered, globules of oil will form. along the top of the moldand an imperfect edge of the ribbon will be formed asit is with! drawnfrom the machine. Also by reason of the rise of the oil an excess supplyof oil is necessary in order that enough be present at the bottom edgeand that the bottom be properly lubricated. In the casting of aplurality of strips, such as in the twin mold, the parts between thesemolds run very hot and if not properly lubricated they are liable tobuckle or bend or become distorted, thus destroying the die or molduntil replaced.

I have found by the forming of a rib upon the walls of the channelthrough which the ribbon is extruded or possibly a plurality of ribsupon the division wall between the two channels where a plurality ofstrips are cast, I am able to minimize, and in some cases entirelyeliminate these undesirable effects which I have just mentioned both inthe article formed and in the trouble experienced with the dies formingit, and to also acquire certain additional advantages such as increasedspeed in operation which will more fully hereinafter appear, and thefollowing is a detailed description of the present embodiment of thisinvention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageousresults may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing I have illustrated a die or mold used forthe formation of two strips or ribbons of work although it will beunderstood that this is merely illustrative as a single ribbon may beformed, or more than two may be formed if desired.

The mold or die shown consists of outer plates I0 and II and a divisionplate I3 positioned between the outer plates i Ii and I I and spacedfrom the outer plates by spacers I4 and I5 along one side and I8 and I!along the other side of the mold, which latter are of generally L-shapewith an arm portion I8 extending partially across the entrance end ofthe mold to leave a narrow throat portion I9 into which the molten metalis forced. Plate I 3 is provided with an unobstructed common opening atthe entrance of the mold by means of a notch 24 forming a throat withthe edge 25 of the notch bevelled or thinned to assist in diverting thematerial at either side thereof into the channels 20 and 2| formedbetween the spacers I 4- and I5-I|, which channels are of a sizesubstantially that of the slug to be formed. Thus the thickness of theribbon is the thickness of the spacer. For instance, if a two-point slugor ribbon is to be provided, the spacers I4 and II will be two pointsthick so as to provide this space between the outer plates I0 and II,and the division plate I3. The spacer may be interchanged for differentdimension channels as desired.

The spacing plate I3 is provided with a pair of ribs 2| and 22 while theouter plates each have a rib' l2 extending longitudinally of the channelII, but to a point slightly short of the discharge end thereof whichribs serve to stiffen the plate and also to distribute the oil moreadvantageously as will presently appear.

The plates constructed as above mentioned are aligned by pins such as 23extending through openings in the plate l3 and entering suitableopenings or recesses in the outer plates Ill and I I, while the platesare secured in position by screws 21 to hold the mold or die inassembled relation such as shown in Fig. l.

The die, designated generally 28, in this assembled relation ispositioned in a portion 30 of the machine II designed to'receive it.This portlon 30 is heated by an electric resistance coil II. and iscooled by circulation of water through the channel 32 about thisportion, the water enterlng as at 33 and being discharged through aconduit 34 extending from the upper wall thereof. This heating andcooling are controlled so that. the desired condensation of the moltenmetal will occur.

The mold 18 is positioned in this portion of the machine by allowingsome of the molten metal to harden about the outer surface thereof, andis in a position to communicate with the molten metal designatedgenerally 35 which is forced through a channel 36 from a cylinder 31 inthe general pct 33 toward this position by a reciprocating plunger notshown but well known in this type of machine. A suitable heating coil 39is provided in one portion of the pot while other heating coils are alsoprovided in a well known manner to control the temperature of the moltenmetal. The pot is packed in asbestos 40 as usual.

A lubricant feed pipe II is positioned with its discharge end 42adjacent the inner end of the mold or die 28, and adjacent the throatportion I9 which is lowermost in the die when positioned in the machine.Lubricant is forced, under pressure, through the conduit 4 I, whichpressure is so regulated that the molten metal will not enter the pipe,cool and clog the same, and yet the pressure will be sufiicient to causejust enough lubricant to be discharged to properly lubricate the workwithout being so excessive as to be wasteful or injure the work. If toomuch lubricant is provided, it will rise both along the outer surface ofthe tube 4i and also'within the mold to collect in globules along theedge of the spacer I6 and prevent the formation of an even and straightline along this edge such as is desired.

The lubricant tends to rise, being lighter than the molten metal whichis lead or a large percentage of lead in an alloyed state, and thusthere is a tendency for the top edge of the extruded strips, designated43 and 44, to be more fully lubricated than the lower edge of thesestrips, but by the provision of ribs on the contacting surfaces of themold, these act as battles to prevent this rise of the lubricant-andthus causing a distribution of the oil over the surface of the materialbeing cast and also serve to prevent heating to some extent, and byforming grooves in the work, the same will cool faster than were moremetal present. Thus by these ribs, which prevent the quick rise of oilalong the surface of the mold, the strips are better lubricated and yetless oil need be used to accomplish this lubrication.

The ribbons are fed forward a certain predetermined amount. It is usualin the non-grooved ribbons to feed these forward about four picas, a

pica equaling one-sixth of an inch. It is found,

however, that as the cooling occurs much faster in the casting of stripswith a groove therein, because of the lubrication and less metal used,as here illustrated, that these strips should be fed forward five picasor five-sixths of an inch in each step action of the machine which isdesirable in that it speeds up the action of the machine and theformation of the strips therein about twentyfive per cent. As the stripsfeed forward fresh molten metal enters the mold and welds to the solidportion of the strip just formed, and as this occurs the oil orlubricant is fed in and the action just mentioned as to the rising ofthis oil occurs.

I have also found in the use of this machine that so much less lubricantis required that the strips come from the machine in substantially abright and dry state and what little oil there is, which adheres willcollect in the grooves formed in the work. The two grooves, and 46formed on the inner surface of the work are necessary by reason of theusually hotter contacting surface of the division plate l3, although Ifind that by forming ribs of this character the division plate will runmuch cooler than heretofore and thus there is practically no liabilityof buckling the same due to excessive heat as sometimes occurs. Theouter plate runs much cooler, and but one rib I2 is necessary, thusthere is but one groove 41 formed on the outer surface of the ribbon.

These ribbons are used as spacers or rules in printing. They stand onedge in the type setters tray and contact along the surfaces 48 and 49,in which the grooves occur, with type or other settings in the typesetters tray. It is usual that these strips will be delivered from themachine in lengths of about thirty inches and the type setter will sawthese strips up by groups of a half dozen or more into the lengthsrequired.

In the sawing operation the particles of sawdust, or so-called lint, flyabout and frequently contact with one or the other of the engagingsurfaces 48 and 49, and it is found that these particles will imbedthemselves into these surfaces and protrude slightly therefrom, whichaction readily occurs because of the soft character of the metal such aslead or lead alloy used, and thus these particles cannot be easily wipedfrom position when used by the type setter, and these proiections willcause the spacer or rule to be off line to such an extent as to make animperfect job of setting type. However, by the provision of the groovesin my product and the accumulation of any existing oil in these grooves,these particles will accumulate only in the grooves and will not beforced into the engaging surfaces and thus will not contact with thetype and cause an imperfect setting of the type by reason of theimperfect contacting surface of the rule, spacer, or the like.

The grooves in the product also provide a lighter weight product withoutweakening the same to any material extent and by the distribution of theoil or lubricant the contacting surfaces of the mold will wear a greaterlength of time. I have found, however, that by coating these contactingsurfaces of the mold with a plating of chromium that a harder surfacemay be provided and one which may receive a higher polish which isreflected in the product in that it is smoother as it comes from themold than when the surface is not of such a highly polished and smoothcharacter, and further and more important this plating serves toincrease the life of the mold.

The foregoing description is directed solely tommas +110 nnnstrimtlonillustrated. but I desire it to be understood that I reserve theprivilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the deviceis susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by theterms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes, a die comprising a channel through which the material isextruded, means for feeding lubricant to said channel, and means on thewall of said channel protruding into the channel for cooperating withthe material extruded for effecting the distribution of lubricant.

2. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes a die comprising a channel through which the material isextruded, means for feeding lubricant to said channel, said channelhaving vertical walls, and a rib on one of the vertical walls extendinglongitudinally of the channel.

3. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes a die comprising.

a channel through which the material is extruded, means for feedinglubricant to said channel, said channel having opposite vertical Walls,and. a rib on both of the vertical walls extending longitudinally of thechannel.

4. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes, a die comprising a plurality of channels through which thematerial is extruded there being a common wall between two of saidchannels, means for feeding lubricant to said channels, and means on thecommon wall between said channels protruding into the channels forcooperating with the material extruded for effecting the distribution oflubricant.

5. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes a die comprising a plurality of channels having vertical wallsthrough which the material is extruded one wall being common to twochannels, each channel being provided with ribs on said vertical wallsextending longitudinally of said channels.

6. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes a die comprising a plurality of channels through which thematerial is extruded, means for feeding lubricant to said channels, acommon wall dividing two of said channels, ribs on the opposite surfacesof said common wall extending longitudinally of said channels foreffecting distribution of lubricant thereover.

'7. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes a die comprising a plurality of channels through which thematerial is extruded, means for feeding lubricant to said channels, acommon wall dividing two of said channels, a plurality of ribs on eachof the opposite surfaces of said common wall extending longitudinally ofsaid channel whereby said wall is stiifened and the lubricantdistributed and the wall maintained cooler in operation.

8. In a machine for forming a spacer, rule or the like for printingpurposes a die comprising a plurality of channels through which thematerial is extruded, means for feeding lubricant to said channels, acommon walldividing two of said channels, a plurality of ribs on each ofthe opposite surfaces of said common wall extending longitudinally ofsaid channel and a single rib on the opposite wall of said channel foreffecting distribution of lubricant thereover.

FRANK J. LEMIEUX.

